Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 30, 2019
First Reading: Hosea 5.15b – 6.6
1In their tribulation, they will arise early to me. Come, let us return to the Lord2For he has seized us, and he will heal us. He will strike, and he will cure us3He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, and we will live in his sight. We will understand, and we will continue on, so that we may know the Lord. His landing place has been prepared like the first light of morning, and he will come to us like the early and the late rains of the land4What am I to do with you, Ephraim? What am I to do with you, Judah? Your mercy is like the morning mist, and like the dew passing away in the morning5Because of this, I have cut them with the prophets, I have slain them with the words of my mouth; and your opinions will depart like the light6For I desired mercy and not sacrifice, and knowledge of God more than holocausts
Psalm 51
1Unto the end. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he went to Bathsheba. Be merciful to me, O God, according to your great mercy. And, according to the plentitude of your compassion, wipe out my iniquity2Wash me once again from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin3For I know my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me4Against you only have I sinned, and I have done evil before your eyes. And so, you are justified in your words, and you will prevail when you give judgment5For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sinfulness did my mother conceive me6For behold, you have loved truth. The obscure and hidden things of your wisdom, you have manifested to me7You will sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed. You will wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow8In my hearing, you will grant gladness and rejoicing. And the bones that have been humbled will exult9Turn your face away from my sins, and erase all my iniquities10Create a clean heart in me, O God. And renew an upright spirit within my inmost being11Do not cast me away from your face; and do not take your Holy Spirit from me12Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and confirm me with an unsurpassed spirit13I will teach the unjust your ways, and the impious will be converted to you14Free me from blood, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will extol your justice15O Lord, you will open my lips, and my mouth will announce your praise16For if you had desired sacrifice, I would certainly have given it, but with holocausts, you will not be delighted17A crushed spirit is a sacrifice to God. A contrite and humbled heart, O God, you will not spurn18Act kindly, Lord, in your good will toward Zion, so that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up19Then you will accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations, and holocausts. Then they will lay calves upon your altar
Gospel: Luke 18.9-14
9Now about certain persons who consider themselves to be just, while disdaining others, he told also this parable10"Two men ascended to the temple, in order to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector11Standing, the Pharisee prayed within himself in this way: ‘O God, I give thanks to you that I am not like the rest of men: robbers, unjust, adulterers, even as this tax collector chooses to be12I fast twice between Sabbaths. I give tithes from all that I possess.13And the tax collector, standing at a distance, was not willing to even lift up his eyes to heaven. But he struck his chest, saying: ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.14I say to you, this one descended to his house justified, but not the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled; and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the virtues of humility and mercy, themes that weave through both the Old Testament and the Gospel. The passage from Hosea speaks of a people called to return to the Lord with sincerity and humility, recognizing their need for healing and restoration. Hosea emphasizes that true faith is not about outward acts of sacrifice, but about a deep, personal relationship with God, rooted in mercy and understanding. This call to humility is echoed in the Gospel parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee, caught up in his own self-righteousness, fails to recognize his need for God's mercy, while the tax collector, humbled by his sinfulness, cries out for forgiveness. Jesus makes it clear that it is the humble who will be exalted, not those who exalt themselves.
The connection between these readings lies in their emphasis on the importance of approaching God with a contrite heart. Hosea's words remind us that true repentance involves acknowledging our shortcomings and seeking God's healing touch. Similarly, the tax collector's prayer in the Gospel is a powerful example of how humility opens the door to God's grace. Both readings challenge us to let go of pride and self-reliance, and instead, to embrace a posture of dependence on God's mercy.
As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how they apply to our daily lives. How often do we, like the Pharisee, focus on our own accomplishments and fail to recognize our need for God's forgiveness? How can we, like the tax collector, cultivate humility and trust in God's mercy? Let us remember that true growth in faith comes not from outward displays of piety, but from a deep, inner transformation rooted in humility and a genuine relationship with God. May we seek to live in such a way that we may "live in his sight" and know the Lord more deeply.